Author Interview: Lynn Chandler-Willis

We’re thrilled to welcome Pelican Book Group author Lynn Chandler-Willis to the Inspy’s blog! Lynn’s novel The Rising is shortlisted in the Speculative Fiction category. Welcome Lynn!

Summary from Goodreads:

A dead child that isn’t dead. A cop out of control. When their worlds collide, God intervenes.

What led you to writing: Although I loved making up stories as a kid, my interest in writing really piqued in the seventh grade when I had to do a book report on Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. I was simply amazed at the ability of a group of words to take me to an entirely different world.

Tell us a book you feel epitomizes quality faith-driven literature:The Shack was probably the first faith-based fiction I read. It opened my eyes to the fact God doesn’t have to be clothed in a flowing white robe. Faith and spirituality are deeply personal subjects but we are bombarded with ideas of what others think it should be. The Shack allowed me to feel comfortable with my own view of God and any book that can change a way of thinking has set new standards.

Lynn’s Work Area

What were the challenges (literary, research, psychological, theological, or logistical) in bringing the book to life? Although as a writer, I often play the “what if” game, but with The Rising, I found myself leaning with the main character, Detective Ellie Saunders, in wanting just the facts. Sure, the very definition of fiction is “not real” but it still has to be believable. Once I, as the writer, knew what I wanted to happen to the child in the story, I had to give at least a feasible medical reason for it to happen.

Favorite book ~ favorite movie ~ favorite tv show? Favorite book is Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier. The beauty of the way the words work together is breathtaking. Favorite movie is Lonesome Dove. It’s so epic. To me, it defines romance. Not the sexual, man-woman love story but the passion for life, adventure, new things. Favorite tv show is Justified. The characters are absolutely brilliant.

What do you hope readers take away from The Rising? God forgives. I had a reader email me and say how she related to Ellie in how far away from God she had become and because of Ellie, the reader knew God had never moved away from her. If that was the only copy of the book ever sold, it would have been worth it.

Thank you for joining us Lynn! For more information about The Rising and Lynn please visit her site at LynnChandlerWillis.com

Thank you, Mary. As always, I’m most grateful and humbled by all the support.

Recognizing the need for a new kind of book award, the INSPYs were created by bloggers to discover and highlight the very best in literature that grapples with expressions of the Christian faith. Contact us at inspyawards@gmail.com Read More…